PORTLAND

Man freed after arrest for violating probation curfew

A Portland man on probation for indecent conduct was released from jail Monday after being arrested for making a nighttime pizza run in violation of his dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Steven Ricci left the Cumberland County Jail after a probation hold was lifted.

On Friday, two days after completing his sentence, an off-duty jail deputy spotted Ricci walking on Brighton Avenue around 10:30 p.m. and contacted police. They arrested Ricci, who was carrying a Little Caesars pizza, on the bridge overpass.

Ricci, who turned 48 on Friday, was returning to the hotel where he was staying, according to police.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Ricci will face a revocation of his probation. His probation officer has 72 hours – not including weekends – to file paperwork initiating such action.

Ricci has not been convicted of any crimes that would qualify him as a sex offender under Maine law, but he has alarmed authorities by disclosing to them his violent sexual fantasies and plans.

In his most recent indecent conduct case, Ricci was convicted of masturbating in front of a woman on a Fore River Sanctuary trail in the summer. A year of probation was part of his sentence.

Police say Ricci has been diagnosed with mental illness.

Public forum will examine joblessness issues in Maine

Unemployment in Maine will be the topic of a public forum this week at the University of Southern Maine.

Wednesday’s forum at USM’s Portland campus will explore what organizers call Maine’s continuing unemployment crisis. Forum panelists will look back at labor history, and look forward to where this problem may lead. The state Labor Department says Maine’s current unemployment rate is 7 percent.

The forum comes as some political leaders suggest that unemployed workers are at least partially responsible for their own plight and have advocated cutting or erecting barriers to unemployment benefits.

The forum, which will take place at 7 p.m. in Talbot Hall (the former Luther Bonney Auditorium), will be led by former Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman.

The event is co-sponsored by the Frances Perkins Center, League of Young Voters, Working America and other groups.

Help with projects offered to owners of homes, businesses

The Portland Society of Architects will offer a free clinic Thursday to homeowners and business owners seeking guidance on projects.

It’s the ninth time that the organization has offered “10-Minute Architect.” The free event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Bard Coffee, 158 Middle St.

Clinic volunteers, including architects, builders and engineers, will help participants with issues such as basic layouts, project budget feasibility and permitting issues.

Despite the 10 minutes in the clinic name, volunteers may work with participants for up to 45 minutes.

Participants are encouraged to bring plans, photos, sketches and other documentation that will help the discussion.

Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged.

SOUTH PORTLAND

High school robotics team earns spot in internationals

The South Portland High School robotics team is heading to the annual FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis in April after winning the regional competition last weekend.

Two Maine robotics teams performed well in the 2012 BAE Systems Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Manchester, N.H., Thursday through Saturday.

The South Portland team won the competition as part of an alliance that included teams from Manchester and Gilford, N.H., said Steve Martin, a Fairchild Semiconductor engineer and team mentor.

Fairchild Semiconductor sponsored six Maine teams at the regional challenge.

In the coming weeks, South Portland’s Riot Crew will work to raise up to $30,000 to cover airfare, hotel and other expenses at the international competition April 25-28. Call 775-8533 to make a donation.

The Falmouth-Gorham high schools team transported all six Maine robots to the competition using its trailer, Martin said.

Other Maine teams that participated in the regional challenge were the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Traip Academy in Kittery and Sanford Technical Center.

APPLETON

Woman dies after collision with son on snowmobiles

A Rockport woman was killed when the snowmobile she was driving collided with one driven by her son.

Jan Richardson, 43, was visiting friends in Appleton on Saturday when the crash occurred. She and her son Josh were riding in a field at 11:30 p.m. when they collided, said Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service.

Union rescue responded and tried to resuscitate the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, MacDonald said. Her son was taken to Waldo County Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

The crash is under investigation, but speed and alcohol appeared to be factors, MacDonald said.

CHARLESTON

Driver dies when she loses control, hits logging truck

Maine State Police say a 20-year-old woman was killed when her car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a logging truck in Charleston.

The crash occurred Monday morning on Main Road in the Penobscot County town. State police said the victim, Samantha Snyder of Charleston, was killed instantly.

The loaded logging truck was driven by Wyatt Astbury, 32, of Orland, who was not injured.

Troopers say Snyder lost control of her car on the snow-covered road and it skidded sideways into the truck’s path. The collision caused the truck to overturn into a ditch, partially spilling its load of logs.

WINDHAM

Clerk making bank deposit robbed by man in a mask

Police were searching Monday for a man who robbed a store clerk who was making a bank deposit.

Around 7:20 a.m., the clerk from Cigarette Shopper at 778 Roosevelt Trail was accosted by a man wearing a mask who demanded cash, police said. The man grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled.

He was described as white, heavy-set, about 5-foot-10 and wearing a red jacket. Police tried to track the man using a police dog but were unsuccessful.

Police asked anyone with information to call them at 892-2525.

WEST GARDINER

Turnpike repaving unlikely to tie up traffic, officials say

Maine Turnpike Authority officials say they don’t expect any major traffic problems when repaving of a five-mile stretch of the highway between West Gardiner and Litchfield begins.

The work is expected to be done in April and cost about $3.2 million. Studies done by the agency indicate the work can take place between 7 p.m. Sunday and noon Friday without having a negative impact on traffic.

MTA spokesman Dan Morin said the project falls within a planned program of pavement rehabilitation that involves repaving a section of highway every 12 to 15 years.

LEWISTON

Officials ready to condemn home say thief was inside

Police say they caught a man stealing copper from a vacant home.

Police and the city’s code enforcement officer had gone to the home Friday to put a condemnation sticker on it, and heard someone inside sawing through copper pipes.

After calling for backup, police forced their way into the home, and after a short search, found the alleged thief hiding under a work bench in the basement. Officers recovered a hack saw, clamps and metal cutters. The Sun Journal reported that Shane Wilson, 32, was charged with burglary and aggravated criminal mischief.

Authorities say thieves steal the copper to sell as scrap. Even though they may get $200 for the copper, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to a home.